The fourth special edition of Sportiva, summarizing the 2025–26 season of the 'Daidō Life SV League'—Japan’s domestic volleyball league now in its second year—will be released on June 30 (Tue) by Shueisha. The cover features Arai Takahashi (Suntory Sunbirds Osaka), one of the league’s most recognizable players, who will be heading overseas for the upcoming season.
▲Cover image © Shueisha 2026 ©Haruichi Furudate / Shueisha Photo by Sunao Noto (a prest0)
This issue features in-depth interviews with popular players including Arai Takahashi, championship MVP Yūji Nishida (Osaka Bluteon), Seidai Sekida (Suntory Sunbirds Osaka), Tomohiro Yamamoto (Osaka Bluteon), Taito Mizumachi (Wolf Dogs Nagoya), Genki Nagoro (Hiroshima Thunders), Riku Goto (Tokyo Great Bears), Soshino Sato (NEC Red Rockets Kawasaki), Rui Nonaka (Victorina Himeji), Manami Nishizaki (Osaka Marvelous), and Merisa Valdes (PFU BlueCats Kahoku, Ishikawa).
※Team affiliations reflect status at the end of the 2025–26 season
Also included are behind-the-scenes reports from the 'SV League Championship Finals' that crowned the league’s second-ever champion, and an interview with timelesz’s Kōkō Hara, a former volleyball player himself and official supporter of Japan’s national team at the ongoing 'Volleyball Nations League 2026'.
▲Back cover ©SV.League
Additionally, the issue comes with two exclusive supplements: the 'Visual Book: 41 SV League Players Choose Their Favorite Haikyu!! Matches' (A4 variant size: 29.7×23.2 cm, 32 pages) and a B2-sized poster (72.8×51.5 cm). In the visual book, 41 SV League players passionately share their favorite matches from the manga Haikyu!! (written by Haruichi Furudate, published by Shueisha), offering unique insights from active athletes. The poster features a combined design of the visual book’s front and back covers.
This special edition offers an intimate look at the personalities behind the SV League athletes who fought through their second season—don’t miss it.
<Supplement Images>
◆ 'Visual Book: 41 SV League Players Choose Their Favorite Haikyu!! Matches' (A4 variant, 32 pages)
▲ Spread of front and back covers ©Haruichi Furudate / Shueisha ▲ Interior spread ©Haruichi Furudate / Shueisha
◆ B2 Poster (72.8×51.5 cm)
©Haruichi Furudate / Shueisha
◆ 'Sportiva Volleyball Special Edition Vol.4' Publication Details
【Release Date】: June 30 (Tue)
【Price】: ¥2,200 (including 10% tax)
【Pages】: 80 pages
【Size】: 29.7 cm x 23.2 cm
【ISBN】: 978-4-08-102517-6
'Haikyu!!'
KEY FIGURES
Authored by Haruichi Furudate, Haikyu!! is a landmark youth volleyball manga that began serialization in Weekly Shōnen Jump in February 2012 and concluded in July 2020. Set in Miyagi Prefecture, the story follows Shōyō Hinata, a high school volleyball player at Shūhō High, as he strives to become the 'Little Giant'—a legendary player from the school’s past—training alongside genius setter Tobio Kageyama, known as the 'King of the Court'. The series has surpassed 75 million copies in cumulative circulation (including digital, as of April 2026). Even after its conclusion, its popularity remains strong, with overwhelming support worldwide through anime adaptations, stage plays, events, and other media. An exhibition titled 'Haruichi Furudate: Haikyu!! Exhibition – Challengers' is scheduled to run from October 30, 2026, to January 11, 2027, at the Mori Arts Center Gallery in Roppongi, Tokyo.
Haruichi Furudate (born March 7, 1983, Iwate Prefecture) Profile
Made his debut in 2009 with the one-shot 'Asobiba.' at 'Akamaru Jump 2009 Winter'. Began his first serialization in Weekly Shōnen Jump in 2010 with 'Kiben Gakupai, Yotsuya-senpai no Kaidan'. Serialized 'Haikyu!!' in the same magazine from February 2012 to July 2020.
○ Official Weekly Shōnen Jump website – Haikyu!! series page: https://www.shonenjump.com/j/rensai/haikyu.html
FACT BOX
- Source: PR TIMES
- Category: 出版